Travel abroad - 4 year old & Hib/Prevnar vac questions

[windorabug]

Hello all,
My dd is 3.5 now & we have the opportunity to live in Italy (Florence) for 3 months starting in January (so she will be 4 then). She is not vaccinated at all & I feel very comfortable in that decision while living here in Oregon. While I know that Italy is not a developing country nor are the living conditions any less than here, my Dr who I trust, has suggested that we get the Hib/Prevnar 13 vaccination. In all my research so far the benefits are outweighing the negative affects of the vaccine when given at her her age.

So I'm asking for your opinion on traveling abroad & vaccinating specifically (& only for Hib) - she will be in preschool there & we will be traveling around Italy & possibly other parts of Europe while there.

Also if you know of any side affects other than the ones I'm finding (rash, soreness, slight fever, possible allergic reaction) - please no fear-mongering just facts! thanks

Also - do you know how you would possible know if someone would have an allergic reaction before giving the vaccine?

Should I have a titer done for her in case she already has had some exposure to Hib?

[xmasbaby7]

Honestly, I cannot think of one legitimate and rational reason why that vaccine was proposed over all others. I have traveled extensively in Italy, and my Italian friends with kids tell me that they have friends who are all over the vaccine spectrum and it just isn't as big a deal there not to vaccinate, but that is anecdotal.

If you are on these boards for some time, you will read that most doctors have one pet vaccine, and I think that this is the case in that circumstance.

Ironically, the only reason I can think of your doc mentioning hib/prevnar is that the Italian government may have actually suspended the vaccine at some point because of fears of linking the Hib vaccine with diabetes, a study done by Italian scientists, if I recall.

Oregon and Italy bear no difference to me in risk at all.

Have a wonderful time on this opportunity!!

[blessedwithboys]

Originally Posted by windorabug

do you know how you would possible know if someone would have an allergic reaction before giving the vaccine?

its really not possible, and thats why vaccination is a crapshoot i am not willing to make

[swissmom]

This is from the National Vaccine Information Center regarding side effects of HiB:

Reported common reactions to Hib vaccine include fever and pain and swelling at injection site. Rash, hives, irritability, restless sleep, prolonged crying; diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, convulsions, collapse/shock, and Guillain-Barre syndrome have also been reported. Some of the studies used to evaluate the reactivity of Hib vaccine were complicated by the fact that Hib vaccine was given simultaneously with DPT an OPV vaccine. When a reaction occurred, it was difficult to determine which vaccines were responsible for the reaction.

I know that (in Germany) 75% of all HiB cases occur in children younger than 2 years of age. That's why I consider my DS (who is 3.5yo) out of the danger zone by now.

I'd like to add that we spend 2 months every summer and every winter in Switzerland since DS has been 11 weeks old. We also travel in Europe and other places in North-America. He is vaccine-free (except of tetanus) and it never crossed my mind to do HiB or Prevnar before going to Europe. I can understand how you feel - not vaccinating is fine as long as you stay in your familiar environment. I was insecure, too, before we took our first transatlantic trip, but I realized that it doesn't make any difference if we are in the US or in Europe as long as we stick to common sense: wash your hands frequently, stay away from coughing people, good nutrition et cetera.

Hope this helps :-)

[Marnica]

Vaccine reactions had little to do with why I opted NOT to get these 2.

I believe serotype replacement is a far greater issue.....get these 2 vaccines and yes, you child may be at less of a risk for getting a strain of bacteria covered in the vax, but will be at an INCREASED risk for getting one not covered, and potentially much worse. IMO the best defense is an intact immune system. Vaccines damage the immune system....HIB and Prevnar vaxes are not exempt from this. No way I would get either of these for travel to Italy, especially at age 4.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by xmasbaby7

If you are on these boards for some time, you will read that most doctors have one pet vaccine, and I think that this is the case in that circumstance.

Yes, why HIB specifically for Italy? Seems like a vax to me.
Hib

[windorabug]

Thank you all, I am just trying to gather information & all the links have been very helpful.